Single brew beverage cartridge system including same and method of use

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a single brew beverage cartridge for use in a brewing apparatus. The cartridge includes a lid and a cup shaped filter suspended below the lid and in which a beverage brewing ingredient is held. The lid includes an annular collar to prevent the lid from deforming when a needle of the brewing apparatus pierces it during the brewing process. Preferably the cartridge is formed of materials, e.g., paper/paperboard, so that it is compostable and biodegradable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No.61/547,968, filed on Oct. 17, 2011, entitled Single Brew BeverageCartridge System Including Same and Method of Use, which application isassigned to the same assignee as this application and whose disclosureis incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

“Not Applicable”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to beverage brewing and moreparticularly to single brew cartridges for brewing beverages in singleserve apparatus and methods of brewing such beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The patent literature includes various examples of single brew beveragefilter packages or cartridges for use in brewing apparatus. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765 discloses a beverage filter cartridge thatincludes an impermeable pierceable base having a predetermined shape andan opening at one end. The base is formed of polystyrene, ethylene vinylalcohol and polyethylene. A self-supporting wettable filter element isdisposed in the base. The filter element may be made of a lightweight,two-phase heat sealable paper of cellulosic and synthetic fibers. Thesynthetic fibers may be PVC or polypropylene so that they are compatiblewith the material of the base and are therefore easily sealed to thebase in communication with the opening in the base using heat,ultrasonic energy or microwave energy. The filter element has a formdifferent and smaller than the predetermined shape of the base so thatthe filter element diverges from the base and divides the base into twosealed chambers, a first chamber for storing an extract of the beverageto be made, and a second empty chamber for accessing the beverage afterthe beverage outflow from the filter has been made by combining a liquidwith the extract. An impermeable pierceable cover is provided sealinglyengaged with the opening in the base to form an impermeable cartridge.U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 discloses a somewhat similar beverage filtercartridge.

While the cartridges of those patents are suitable for their purposesthey are nevertheless somewhat complex in construction, e.g., theyrequire a self supporting, e.g., plastic material, outer base in whichthe filter element is suspended to break up the interior of the baseinto the two chambers.

In Published U.S. Application 2005/0287251 there is disclosed adisposable beverage filter package that does not make use of an outerbase. In particular, the filter package comprises a flexible andpermeable filter pouch in the form of a cone having a sidewall extendingdownwardly from a top opening to a closed bottom. The pouch is suspendedfrom and supported exclusively by an imperforate impermeable lidconfigured and arranged to close the top opening and to coact with thepouch in defining an enclosed chamber. The side wall of the pouch has anupper region with a permeability that is greater than that of a lowerregion. This difference in permeability may be provided by variousmeans, e.g., by adding an inner cone shaped insert of the same materialas that of the outer wall. A dry beverage medium is loosely containedwithin the filter pouch. The lid is piercable to admit a flow of heatedliquid under pressure into the chamber, with the permeability of thepouch being such that the admitted liquid is retained temporarily in thechamber for infusion with the beverage medium before permeating throughand flowing downwardly along the exterior of the sidewall as a liquidbeverage.

While the cartridge of that application appears generally suitable forits purposes, it is still somewhat complex in construction (e.g., makesuse of a conical filter whose lower end, in which the beverage brewingingredient will be concentrated, is of thickened or double wallthickness), is somewhat limited in the amount of beverage brewingingredient it can hold, and may leave something to be desired from thestandpoint of effectiveness in brewing the beverage.

Thus, there presently exists a need for a disposable beverage filtercartridge for use in beverage brewers, with the cartridge being low incost, simple in construction and preferably compostable andbiodegradable so that it can be readily and safely disposed of afteruse. The subject invention addresses that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided asingle brew beverage cartridge for use in a beverage brewing apparatus,the apparatus comprising a brewing chamber, a supply of a hot liquid,and a piercing member. The cartridge is compostable and biodegradableand comprises a filter, a beverage-brewing ingredient, and a lid. Thelid comprises a piercable portion, a flange and a collar, with thecollar comprising a side wall having a peripheral surface projectingdownward from the flange and extending about a longitudinal axis. Thelid is resistant to flexure when a force is applied to the piercableportion of the lid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Thefilter comprises an expandable, cup-shaped hollow body formed of a layerof material having a first portion secured to periphery of the collarand a second portion extending substantially below the collar. Thecup-shaped body holds the beverage brewing ingredient, with the lidsealing the beverage brewing ingredient in the cup-shaped body. Thecartridge is arranged to be suspended by its flange in the brewingchamber of the apparatus. The piercing member of the brewing apparatusis arranged to apply a force in the longitudinal direction to thepiercable portion of the lid of the cartridge to pierce the lid when thecartridge is suspended within the brewing chamber. The collar of the lidof the cartridge is resistant to flexure by the application of thatforce to facilitate the piercing of the lid by the piercing member.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention the lid is formed ofpaper/paperboard including a biodegradable coating of polyethylene. Thecup-shaped body of the filter comprises a layer of paper comprising amultitude of paper fibers.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided asystem made up of a single brew cartridge as set forth above incombination with a single serve beverage brewing apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention provided a method ofbrewing a beverage using apparatus like that set forth above. Thatmethod basically entails suspending the single brew cartridge by itscollar in the brewing chamber of the apparatus. Thereafter, the piercingmember of the brewing apparatus is caused to apply a force in thelongitudinal direction to the piercable portion of the lid when thecartridge is suspended within the brewing chamber to pierce through thelid. The collar of the lid resists flexure of the lid from theapplication of that force to facilitate the piercing of the lid by thepiercing member. Hot liquid is then introduced through the piercingmember into the cartridge to brew the beverage therein, whereupon thebeverage can flow out of the cartridge through the second portion of thefilter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is side elevation view partially in section of a single servebeverage brewing apparatus making use of a single brew beveragecartridge constructed in accordance with this invention, with theapparatus being shown at an initial point in the process of brewing abeverage;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, like that of FIG. 1, but showing theapparatus at a later point in the process of brewing a beverage;

FIG. 3 is a reduced isometric view of the cartridge shown in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cartridge shown inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing analternative embodiment of a single brew beverage cartridge constructedin accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the portion of the cartridge bounded bythe oval area designated as 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of one exemplary bag or container forholding a cartridge of this invention until the cartridge is ready foruse; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of another exemplary bag or container,holding a plurality of cartridges of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein likereference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 oneexemplary embodiment of a single serve beverage brewing cartridge 20constructed in accordance with one aspect of this invention. Thecartridge 20 (as well as other cartridges constructed in accordance withthis invention) holds a beverage brewing ingredient, e.g., groundroasted coffee, tea, etc.), and is arranged to be used in various typesof beverage brewing apparatus. In particular, as will be described indetail later, the cartridge 20 is arranged to be pierced in theapparatus to introduce hot water into it to brew the desired beverage.However, unlike those prior cartridges having a plastic base in which afilter is disposed to create a first chamber for holding the beveragebrewing ingredient and a second chamber into which the brewed beveragepasses (e.g., the cartridges of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765 and 5,840,189and other similar cartridges), the cartridges of this invention do nothave to be pierced a second time to enable the brewed beverage to flowout of them. Instead, as will be seen the brewed beverage automaticallyflows directly out of the cartridge once the hot liquid is introducedtherein without the need for any piercing mechanism to effect thataction.

Thus, the cartridges of this invention can be used in any type ofbrewing apparatus that has a chamber for receiving the cartridge and aneedle or some other piercing means for introducing hot pressurizedwater into the cartridge. In fact, the cartridges of the subjectinvention can be used in prior art brewing apparatus like those Keurigbrewing machines used for cartridges like disclosed in theaforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765 and 5,840,189. One example ofsuch prior art brewing machines is shown schematically at 10 in FIG. 1.That prior art brewing machine includes a needle to pierce the bottom ofthe cartridge to receive the brewed beverage when used with prior artsingle brew cartridges. However, that needle is not used to pierce thecartridges of this invention. In particular, when a cartridgeconstructed in accordance with this invention is used in such a priorart brewing apparatus, the cartridge is supported in the brewing chamberin a manner that precludes it from being pierced by the needle at thebottom of the brewing chamber. Instead, the brewed beverageautomatically flows out of the cartridge into the bottom of the brewingchamber from whence it is carried by the needle to some means (notshown) for dispensing it into some vessel (e.g., a cup, mug, etc.).

Turning now to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the exemplary brewingapparatus 10 basically comprises a housing having a hollow beveragebrewing chamber 12 for receipt of the cartridge 20. A cover (not shown)of the housing is pivotably connected to the chamber 12 to close thechamber off and seal it when the cartridge 20 is located in it. Thecover carries a hollow needle 16 which is arranged to penetrate a topportion of the cartridge when the cover is pivoted closed. The needle 16serves to introduce pressurized hot water into the beverage brewingingredient in the cartridge. A gasket 16A extends about the periphery ofthe needle 16 to form a seal with the portion of the cartridgecontiguous with the hole formed by the needle to prevent the hot waterfrom exiting that interface. The hot water injected into the cartridgeis thus infused with the beverage brewing ingredient therein. Theresulting brewed beverage automatically flows directly out of thecartridge into the brewing chamber without the need for any other meansas will be described in detail later. Since the apparatus 10 is arrangedto be used with prior art cartridges, it does include a second hollowneedle 18 which extends into the chamber 12 from its bottom. The needle18 is coupled to a dispenser (not shown) and is arranged to carry thebrewed beverage out of the brewing chamber 12 into the receiving vessel,but does not penetrate the cartridge of this invention to achieve thatend.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of one exemplary cartridge 20will now be described. As can be seen the cartridge basically comprisesa disk-like lid 22 and a cup-shaped filter 24 and a beverage-brewingingredient 26, e.g., roast ground coffee, located within the hollowinterior of the cup-shaped filter 24. Preferably the components makingup the lid and filter are formed of material(s) that lend themselves tosafe disposal (e.g., are compostable and/or biodegradable) after thecartridge has been used to brew the beverage. To that end, the lid 22 isformed of some impermeable yet pierceable material, e.g., a polymer,such as polylactic acid or polylactide. The lid is of circular profile,e.g., 21 mm, when viewed from the top and includes an annular collar 28projecting downward, e.g., 2 mm from its undersurface 30 about alongitudinal axis L (FIG. 4). The outer surface 32 (FIG. 4) of thecollar 28 is located radially inward a slight distance, e.g., 2 mm, fromthe outer periphery of the lid to result in a flange 34 extending aboutthe periphery of the lid and about axis L.

The cup-shaped filter 24 is formed of any suitable permeable/perforatematerial and is arranged to be expandable (for reasons to be describedlater). The expandability of the cup shaped filter may be provided byfluting or otherwise contouring, e.g., dimpling, etc., the materialmaking up the filter so that the volume encompassed by the filterexpands when the hot liquid is introduced into the beverage brewingingredient held within the filter. Alternatively, the material making upthe filter may be chosen so that it inherently expands during thebrewing process.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the filter is formed ofpolylactic acid, in the interest of compostability and/orbiodegradability. Other materials, e.g., paper or other polymers orcombinations thereof, can be used for the filter, if desired. The filter24 is of somewhat cylindrical shape with a slightly downwardly taperingsidewall 36 extending about axis L and a generally planar bottom wall 38extending perpendicularly to that axis. The height of the sidewall isapproximately 13 mm, while the diameter of the bottom wall isapproximately 14 mm to enable a charge of 12 grams of coffee to be heldwithin it. It should be appreciated, that other cup-shapedconfigurations can be used in lieu of the one shown herein so long as itincludes some hollow interior in which a suitable charge of the beveragebrewing ingredient 26 can be held. The top peripheral edge 40 (FIG. 4)of the sidewall 36 of the filter 24 is fixedly secured to the outersurface 32 of the annular collar 28, e.g., it is welded thereto, so thatthe filter with its charge of beverage brewing ingredient 26 issuspended downward from the cartridge's lid 22.

It should be pointed out at this juncture that the materials making upthe components of the cartridge 20 as described above are exemplary ofvarious materials that can be used in accordance with this invention.For example, the cartridge can be formed primarily of paper orpaperboard in the interest of compostability, biodegradability and cost.Such a cartridge may be constructed similarly to that shown in FIGS. 3and 4 using the following materials. The piercable lid 22 is in the formof a planar disk, which is of circular shape, e.g., 2 inches in diameterand 0.013 inches, thick and comprises liquid packaging board (e.g., amulti-ply paperboard made from only virgin paper fibers, with highstiffness and strong wet sizing) that is coated on both sides withbiodegradable polyethylene. The total thickness of the packaging boardis approximately 0.012 inches and is composed of three plies. The middle(or bulk) ply is made from unbleached chemical pulp and waste recycledfrom the paper machine. The two outer plies are made of bleachedchemical pulp. Both sides of the liquid packaging board are extrusioncoated with 0.0005 inch thick layers of low-density polyethylene and anadditive to render the polyethylene biodegradable. In the exemplaryembodiment the additive is 1% by weight of ethylene vinyl acetatecopolymer with additive ingredients of organoleptic-organic chemicalnames/cultured colloids, natural fiber and is available from ECMBiofilms Inc. of Painesville, Ohio under the designation ECM6.0701MasterBatch Pellets™.

In this embodiment, the annular collar 28 is a separate component fromthe planar disk 22, but is secured to it to form a unitary member. Tothat end, the collar 28 is formed from a spiral wound paperboard tubethat is 1⅞ inch in outside diameter, with a wall thickness of 0.07inches and is cut to a length of 0.3 inches. The cut tube is coated withethylene vinyl acetate copolymer to render it weldable. The ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer coating weight is 2-3 pounds per 3000 squarefeet. The cut tube forming the collar is welded to underside of the disk22, with the edge of the collar (tube) centered on the flat side of thedisk, so that a 1/16 inch lip of the disk extends all around the collar.That lip forms the flange 34 of the cartridge to support the cartridgein the brewing apparatus.

The filter component 24 of this embodiment of the cartridge comprisesheat sealable filter paper sheet that is made up of a filtration layerformed from coarse long fiber pulp (e.g., abaca fibers, wood pulp, andcellulose rayon fiber) and a sealing layer (e.g., polyethylene andethylene vinyl acetate copolymer). The filter paper sheet has a basisweight of 41 grams per square meter. In order to form the cup-shapedfilter a flat sheet of the filter paper is pressed into a heated femaledie with a heated male die. The combination of heat and pressure fromthe dies forms the filter paper sheet into the shape of a cup, with amouth having a diameter just slightly larger than 1⅞ inches and a depthof 1½ inches and a bottom diameter of 1½ inches.

The filter paper cup is filled with the desired quantity of beveragepowder, for example 12 grams of ground coffee. The mouth (peripheraledge) of the filter cup is slipped over the collar 28 and the abuttingportions of the mouth of the filter cup and the outer surface of thecollar are heat sealed together, thereby completing the assembly of thecartridge.

Any cartridge constructed in accordance with this invention can be usedwith a conventional single serve brewing apparatus 10 to brew a singleserving of the beverage from the beverage making ingredient held in thecartridge. That action will now be described by reference to FIGS. 1 and2. To that end the cartridge is disposed in the brewing chamber 12 ofthe apparatus 10 by disposing the peripheral flange 34 of the cartridgeon an annular wall 12A surrounding the brewing chamber 12. When sodisposed the bottom wall 38 of the cartridge is disposed above the freeend of the needle 18 so that it will not be pierced by that needle.Moreover, and quite importantly, the cup shaped filter is unconstrainedby the walls of the beverage brewing chamber (or by any other structurefor that matter). Thus, the cup shaped filter 24 is enabled to expandduring the brewing process (as will be described later). The cover (notshown) of the brewing apparatus is then closed to bring the top piercingneedle 16 into engagement with a top portion 22A (FIG. 4) of the liddisposed inward from the collar 28. Continued downward pivoting of thecover causes the needle to pierce through the top portion 22A of thecover. The collar 28 provides sufficient rigidity to the structure toensure that the downward force caused by the engagement of the needle onthe lid as it pierces the lid does not distort the cartridge to preventproper action. Once the needle has pierced through the lid portion 22Aand is in position like shown in FIG. 1, hot water under pressure isinjected through the needle into the interior of the cup-shaped filter24. The gasket 16A prevents that hot water from exiting the interfacebetween the needle and the pierced lid of the cartridge. The hot waterinjected into the cartridge is thus infused with the beverage brewingingredient, e.g., the roast ground coffee therein, and the resultingbeverage automatically flows out of the sidewall 36 and bottom wall 38of the filter 24 into the brewing chamber 12. The brewed liquid thenflows into the needle 18, from whence it is carried for dispensing intothe cup, mug or other vessel provided for receipt thereof.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, since the cupshaped filter is unconstrained within the chamber, when the hot water isintroduced into the beverage brewing ingredient, the filter expandssomewhat, e.g., its fluting opens so that the sidewall bulges outslightly as shown in FIG. 2. This expanding action of the filter has abeneficial effect of enabling better mixing of the water with thebeverage brewing ingredient to enhance the infusion process, therebyresulting in a better brewed beverage. Thus, with the subject invention,less of the beverage brewing ingredient can be used for a given desiredstrength of brewed beverage or a higher strength brewed beverage canresult from a given amount of beverage brewing ingredient.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6 yet another exemplary embodiment of asingle brew beverage cartridge constructed in accordance with thisinventions is shown. That cartridge can be used in any brewing machineany cartridge 20 described above can be used in and is designated by thereference number 20′. The cartridge 20′ is similar in many respects tothe previously described cartridges 20. In the interest of brevity thosecomponents of the cartridge 20′ that are common with like components ofthe cartridges 20 will be given the same reference numbers and thedetails of their construction and operation will not be reiterated. Tothat end, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 the lid 22′ of the cartridge20′ comprises two members, namely, a planar disk-like member 22A′ and aring-like member 22B′. The ring-like member 22B′ includes a collar 28projecting downward from its undersurface. The ring like member 22B′also includes a flanged portion 34′ extending radially outward from theouter surface 32 of the collar. The disk-like member 22A′ is of circularprofile and is of the same diameter as that of the ring-like member 22B′and is secured to the flanged portion 34′ of the ring-like member 22B′by any suitable means, e.g., welding, an adhesive, etc. Each of themembers 22A′ and 22B′ can be formed of any suitable material, e.g., apolymer, such as polyethylene, polylactic acid, or some other material,such as paper or paperboard (like that described above with respect tothe primarily paper/paperboard embodiment 20).

The cartridge 20′ includes a cup-shaped filter 24′ that is of similarshape as filter 24. The filter 24′ is formed of a permeable/perforatepaper. In order to ensure that the top edge of the paper cup shapedfilter is permanently fixedly secured to the outer surface 32 of thecollar and remains so affixed during the brewing process, e.g., toprevent a blow out of the cartridge during the brewing process, a ring42 of a polymer material, e.g., polyethylene or polylactic acid, isprovided on the filter 24′ contiguous with its upper edge. The strip maybe approximately 10 mm wide by 130 mm long, and may be 38 microns thick.This strip acts as reinforcement for the paper making up the filter. Inparticular, the polymer film is first sealed to the paper and becomesembedded in the paper fibers as shown in FIG. 6. The exposed polymersurface of the now reinforced paper filter can then be sealed, e.g.,welded, to the collar 28 of the lid.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, when brewing abeverage using any cartridge constructed in accordance with thisinvention in any conventional brewing apparatus like described above,the coffee may splash in the brewing chamber leaving a residue on thewalls of the chamber. That residue can be the source of an objectionabletaste contamination if the next beverage brewed is not the same beverageas the previous one. For example, if the apparatus is used to brew a cupof coffee and then is to be used to brew a cup of tea, any residue ofthe brewed coffee left in the chamber may objectionably affect the tasteof the brewed tea. To minimize that contamination potential one canminimize splashing by making the ring 42 extend downward a substantiallygreater distance of the height of the sidewall 26. Thus, the strip 42 ofpolymer may be made at least 30 mm high so that the area 26A′ extendslike a skirt substantially below the lid to help to direct the beverageflow downward. At the same time the ring of polymer still acts asreinforcement for the paper.

Inasmuch as the cartridges of this invention have substantially exposedareas into which moisture and air can gain ingress to potentiallydegrade the beverage brewing ingredient until the cartridge is ready foruse, this invention contemplates the use of a moisture and airimpermeable cover, e.g., a polymer or foil or laminate combination, toact as a barrier to the passage of air therethrough into the cartridge.Depending upon the construction of the cartridge the cover may be in theform of a barrier for use on the lid portion of the cartridge or on thefilter portion or on both portions. Thus, the cover may be constructedto isolate all portions of the cartridge from the ambient air until thecartridge is ready for use. For example the cover may be in the form ofa pouch or bag 44 as shown in FIG. 7 in which the cartridge is disposed.In FIG. 8 there is shown a plurality of cartridges 20/20′ held within asingle bag 44.

Irrespective of which portion(s) of the cartridge the cover isconstructed to overlie to prevent the ingress of air therethrough, thecover should be removable so that the cartridge's filter is exposed(free to enable the brewed beverage to pass through its wall) when thecartridge is ready to be used in the brewing apparatus.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:
 1. A single brew beverage cartridge for use in a beveragebrewing apparatus, the apparatus comprising a brewing chamber, a supplyof a hot liquid, and a piercing member, said cartridge being compostableand biodegradable and comprising a filter, a beverage brewingingredient, and a lid, said lid comprising a piercable portion, a flangeand a collar, said collar comprising a side wall having a peripheralsurface projecting downward from said flange and extending about alongitudinal axis, said lid being resistant to flexure when a force isapplied to said piercable portion of said lid in a direction parallel tosaid longitudinal axis, said filter comprising an expandable, cup-shapedhollow body formed of a layer of material having a first portion securedto periphery of said collar and a second portion extending substantiallybelow said collar, said cup-shaped body holding said beverage brewingingredient therein, said lid sealing said beverage brewing ingredient insaid cup-shaped body, said cartridge being arranged to be suspended bysaid flange in the brewing chamber of the apparatus, the piercing memberof the apparatus being arranged to apply a force in said longitudinaldirection to said piercable portion of said lid to pierce said lid whensaid cartridge is suspended within the brewing chamber, said collar ofsaid lid being resistant to flexure by the application of said force tofacilitate the piercing of said lid by the piercing member.
 2. Thesingle brew beverage cartridge of claim 1 wherein said second portion ofsaid filter is unconstrained by the brewing chamber when said cartridgeis suspended therein, the piercing member being arranged to introduce ahot liquid into said cartridge to cause said filter to expand, saidexpansion facilitating the mixing of the hot liquid and said beveragebrewing ingredient to effectively brew a beverage within said cartridge.3. The single brew beverage cartridge of claim 2 wherein said lidcomprises primarily paper.
 4. The single brew beverage cartridge ofclaim 3 wherein said primarily paper lid comprises a thin coating ofpolyethylene.
 5. The single brew beverage cartridge of claim 4 whereinsaid thin coating of polyethylene is rendered biodegradable through theuse of an additive.
 6. The single brew beverage cartridge of claim 2wherein said filter body is formed of a layer of paper comprising amultitude of paper fibers.
 7. The single brew beverage cartridge ofclaim 3 wherein said filter body is formed of a layer of papercomprising a multitude of paper fibers.
 8. The single brew beveragecartridge of claim 7 comprising a cover disposed over said lid and saidfilter to prevent the ingress of air and moisture into said beveragebrewing ingredient.
 9. The single brew beverage cartridge of claim 8wherein said cover is removable prior to the suspension of saidcartridge in the brewing chamber of the apparatus.
 10. The single brewbeverage cartridge of claim 9 wherein said cover comprises a bag. 11.The single brew beverage cartridge of claim 10 wherein plural of saidcartridges are disposed is said bag.
 12. In combination a single brewbeverage cartridge and a beverage brewing apparatus, said single brewbeverage cartridge being compostable and biodegradable and comprising afilter, a beverage brewing ingredient, and a lid, said lid comprising apiercable portion, a flange and a collar, said collar comprising a sidewall having a peripheral surface projecting downward from said flangeand extending about a longitudinal axis and being resistant to flexurewhen a force is applied to said lid in a direction parallel to saidlongitudinal axis, said filter comprising an expandable, cup-shapedhollow body formed of a layer of material having a first portion securedto periphery of said collar and a second portion extending substantiallybelow said collar, said cup-shaped body holding said beverage brewingingredient therein, said lid sealing said beverage brewing ingredient insaid cup-shaped body, said beverage brewing apparatus comprising abrewing chamber, a supply of a hot liquid, and a piercing member, saidcartridge being arranged to be suspended by said flange in said beveragebrewing chamber, said piercing member being arranged to apply a force insaid longitudinal direction to said piercable portion of said lid topierce said lid when said cartridge is suspended within said brewingchamber, said lid being resistant to flexure from the application ofsaid force to facilitate the piercing of said lid by said piercingmember, whereupon the hot liquid can be introduced through said piercingmember into said cartridge.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein saidsecond portion of said filter is unconstrained by said brewing chamberwhen said cartridge is suspended therein, whereupon said filter isenabled to expand when the hot liquid is introduced into said cartridge,said expansion facilitating the mixing of the hot liquid and saidbeverage brewing ingredient to effectively brew a beverage within saidcartridge.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said lid comprisesprimarily paper.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said primarilypaper lid comprises a thin coating of polyethylene.
 16. The combinationof claim 15 wherein said thin coating of polyethylene is renderedbiodegradable through the use of an additive.
 17. The combination ofclaim 13 wherein said filter body is formed of a layer of papercomprising a multitude of paper fibers.
 18. The combination of claim 14wherein said filter body is formed of a layer of paper comprising amultitude of paper fibers.
 19. The combination of claim 18 comprising acover disposed over said lid and said filter to prevent the ingress ofair and moisture into said beverage brewing ingredient.
 20. Thecombination of claim 19 wherein said cover is removable prior to thesuspension of said cartridge in the brewing chamber of the apparatus.21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said cover comprises a bag. 22.The combination of claim 21 wherein plural of said cartridges aredisposed is said bag.
 23. A method of brewing a beverage by means of asingle brew beverage cartridge placed in a beverage brewing apparatus,said single brew beverage cartridge being compostable and biodegradableand comprising a filter, a beverage brewing ingredient, and a lid, saidlid comprising a piercable portion, a flange and a collar, said collarcomprising a side wall having a peripheral surface projecting downwardfrom said flange and extending about a longitudinal axis and beingresistant to flexure when a force is applied to said piercable portionof said lid in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, saidfilter comprising an expandable, cup-shaped hollow body formed of asingle layer of material having a first portion secured to periphery ofsaid collar and a second portion extending substantially below saidcollar, said cup-shaped body holding said beverage brewing ingredienttherein, said lid sealing said beverage brewing ingredient in saidcup-shaped body, said method comprising: suspending said cartridge bysaid collar in said brewing chamber; causing said piercing member toapply a force in said longitudinal direction to said piercable portionof said lid when said cartridge is suspended within said brewing chamberto pierce through said lid, with said collar resisting flexure of saidlid from the application of said force to facilitate the piercing ofsaid lid by said piercing member; and introducing a hot liquid throughsaid piercing member into said cartridge.
 24. The method of claim 23wherein said second portion of said filter is unconstrained by saidbrewing chamber when it is suspended therein, whereupon said secondportion of said filter is enabled to expand when the hot liquid isintroduced into said cartridge, said expansion facilitating the mixingof the hot liquid and said beverage brewing ingredient to effectivelybrew a beverage within said cartridge.
 25. The method of claim 23wherein said beverage brewing ingredient comprises coffee.
 26. Themethod of claim 23 wherein said lid is formed of paper and biodegradablepolyethylene.
 27. The method of claim 23 wherein said filter is formedof paper and biodegradable polyethylene.
 28. The method of claim 23wherein said lid and said filter are each formed of paper andbiodegradable polyethylene.
 29. The method of claim 23 additionallycomprising disposing a cover around said lid and said filter to preventthe ingress of air and moisture into said beverage brewing ingredient.30. The method of claim 29 additionally comprising removing said coverfrom said cartridge prior to the suspension of said cartridge in saidbrewing chamber of said apparatus.
 31. The method of claim 29 whereinsaid cover comprises a bag.
 32. The method of claim 30 where plural ofsaid cartridges are disposed in said bag.